by Claire Hoelmer, Suyesh Acharya, and Sydney Gibson

Bodily system that uses a complex network of neurons to allow communication between parts of the bodyCentral & Peripheral Nervous System•Allows the Brain to control the body•crucial for human movement and function• Highway for information processing and response•Sensory Neurons- send stimulation information from senses to the brain.• Motor Neurons- send commands from the brain to muscles or other organs

Brain is the Central Processing Center

Cells of the Nervous SystemCells of the Nervous System

•Uses Action potential (electricity) to transmit signal down the axon, within the cell.• Neurotransmitters (Chemical signaling) through vesicle transport are used to send signals between nerves. •Bundles and series of neurons make a nerve•The less neurons the better•Some nerve cells are over 1.5m long

• Nerve is damaged due to traumatic injury such as deep wound, burns, or crushing.

• Goal is to regenerate ( stretch) the neuron rather than to implant a nerve to fill in the gap. • a better alternative than

nerve graft

• Use different signals and materials to develop a construct that will help guide the regrowing nerve to the proper location.

R.V. Bellamkonda, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: an Opinion on Channels, Scaffolds and Anisotropy, Biomaterials 27 (2006)

Using a nerve guidance conduit, choose the appropriate cells, signals, and scaffold factors to regrow the damaged nerve cell to restore arm function